Potentilla plant named ‘Yellow Sunrise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Potentilla  plant named ‘Yellow Sunrise’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; and large bright yellow-colored flowers with orange-colored bases.

Botanical designation: Potentilla megalantha.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Yellow Sunrise’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Potentilla, botanically known as Potentilla megalantha, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yellow Sunrise’.

The new Potentilla is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Potentilla megalantha not patented. The new Potentilla was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands during the spring of 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Potentilla by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands since late summer of 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Potentilla are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yellow Sunrise has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Yellow Sunrise’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yellow Sunrise’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Potentilla:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Large bright yellow-colored flowers with orange-colored         bases.

Plants of the new Potentilla can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Potentilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Potentilla are larger and more vigorous         than plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Potentilla are more freely branching and         more freely flowering than plants of the parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Potentilla have larger flowers than plants         of the parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Potentilla and the parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the parent selection have lighter         yellow-colored flowers without orange-colored bases.

Plants of the new Potentilla can be compared to plants of an unnamed selection of Potentilla repens, not patented. Plants of the new Potentilla differ primarily from plants of the unnamed selection in plant habit as plants of the unnamed selection are more outwardly spreading. In addition, plants of the new Potentilla have larger leaves and flowers than plants of the unnamed selection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Potentilla, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Potentilla.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yellow Sunrise’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Yellow Sunrise’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Boijl, The Netherlands in containers during the spring in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 15° C. to about 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 10° C. to about 15° C. Plants were about two years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Potentilla megalantha cultivar Yellow     Sunrise. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     selection of Potentilla megalantha, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 days at 20° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About two to three weeks at 20° C. to             21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; color, 161D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly             spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about seven to             nine lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 40 cm to 45 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or whorled; palmately compound with             three leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 6 cm to 6.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 7.5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse to cordate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Irregularly lobed.         -   Leaflet texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Leaflet texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: 138B. Mature foliage,             upper surface: 137C; venation, 143A. Mature foliage, lower             surface: 138B; venation, 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower             surface: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single rotate flowers arranged             on panicles; flowers face upright to outwardly. Freely             flowering habit, about 10 to 15 flowers per lateral branch.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering in April             and continue to flower until early June in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three weeks;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 137C.         -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter:             About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About             1.5 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: 9A; towards the             base, 17B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 9B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl. Length: About             1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Immature and mature, upper surface:             137A. Immature and mature, lower surface: 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 7 cm to 10 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Aspect: About 10° to about 30°             from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145A.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Aspect: About 5° to about 10°             from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 15             to 20. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 3 mm to             5 mm. Anther diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Anther color:             12A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: About 20. Pistil length: About 5 mm.             Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 12A. Style length:             About 5 mm. Style color: 12A. Ovary color: Close to 144A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Potentilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Potentilla have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Potentilla. 

1. A new and distinct Potentilla plant named ‘Yellow Sunrise’ as illustrated and described. 